Creating a powerful network isn’t about getting a better job or meeting other important people or making more money. Sure, it can lead to all of that, but that’s not what it’s about. Creating a powerful network is about serving the people and ideas that matter to you.

When I establish a business relationship with someone, when I consider someone a part of my “network,” I take on a responsibility to serve. What can I do to help build their business? Who do I know that can take them to the next level?

If I gain something from the exchange that’s fantastic, but that’s never the motive behind the establishment of the relationship.

If you build your network with people who share this ideology, something wonderful happens: you create an exchange of giving, a fully functional support system where the sum is greater than each individual part—an intricate web of knowledge and resources.

Being a good networker is as simple as asking a single question: How can I help you?

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“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

Wise words from radio personality Ira Glass.

It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.

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Creativity is often thought of as an organic process—an artistic journey that’s fueled by a strict regimen of unyielding sacrifice and concentrated introspection. Blah, blah, blah. Sometimes you don’t have time to channel the damn muse; you’re on a deadline. You need to jump-start creativity now.

Jump-starting creativity is more than just about getting in the right headspace; it’s about getting in the right physical space. In other words, in order to spark creativity you first must identify where it is you get creative.

I get 98 percent of best ideas in two places: on long walks and in the shower (don’t read too much into the latter). And it makes sense.

I’m somebody who loves motion. I thrive when I’m going somewhere, doing something, keeping busy. My calendar is jam-packed from 7am – 11pm, and that’s how I like it. It’s how I do my best work. So naturally, a brisk long walk—a motion driven activity—fuels my creative spirit.

Conversely, when I do decide to relax it’s all-encompassing. I’m less of a read-a-book-in-the-shade kind of relaxer and more of a lock-myself-in-a-hotel-room-for-two-days-and-drop-off-the-face-of-the-planet type. So of course it makes sense that a long hot shower, the pinnacle of my daily relaxation, puts me in the right frame of mind to be creative.

You see, for me creativity doesn’t come in the grey areas of life, but in the highly contrasted black and white: quick motion and perfect stillness. And so I must create that palette in order to ignite the spark.

Jump-starting creativity is as simple as knowing where you get creative and purposely putting yourself in that environment.  Let the physical fuel the mental. It works almost every time.

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It costs me an extra $6 a week to drop off my laundry at the laundromat. That’s $24 a month, $288 a year. Is it worth spending $288 to avoid my least favorite chore and save hours of precious time? The answer is a definitive yes.

In New York City most people don’t have a washer and dryer in their apartment. Since I live on the bottom floor of a home, there isn’t even laundry in my building. That means I must rely on the corner laundromat. One day shortly after moving in, I sat down and did the math.

On average it takes me about one hour and thirty five minutes to do laundry. Plus, there’s sweat equity to consider. Plus, it’s annoying. Combined, that means I’d be spending 76 hours a year—more than 3 whole days—doing something I hate. After that calculation I never did my own laundry again.

Sometimes it’s worth paying a little more to automate those things in life that waste time and create unhappiness. It doesn’t have to be laundry. With the rise of digital assistants, many time wasters can be avoided for a nominal fee. And they should be. Imagine what you could accomplish if you were given 76 extra hours a year.

The formula is simple: If the cost of automation is less than the value of the time and effort it takes to complete the chore, you’ve made a smart investment. What can you automate in your life?

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Zig Ziglar got a lot of things right. A bestselling author, salesman, and speaker, Ziglar is famous for helping people set goals and achieve them.

In his latest book Born to Win, Zig focuses on the importance of attitude and the necessity of putting yourself in the right frame of mind to succeed. Here’s a selection from the book:

“We all know that life is tough. Many times our best plans turn sour as we pursue our goals and dreams. For that reason, there are two qualities every person must have to fuel their desire and sustain their pursuit of  success. Those two qualities are commitment and perseverance. You need commitment to produce the focus and consistency you need to keep your eye on the target. Then you need perseverance to make it over the rough spots and setbacks you will most certainly experience along your journey to success.”

If you want to learn more from the man who’s helped inspire thousands, visit BornToWinTheBook.com where you can preview the first chapter. I think you’ll really enjoy it.

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My first office job was at the headquarters of a well-known bank in Manhattan. One afternoon, a small team of HR representatives arrived on our floor and laid off 40 employees, half of whom had worked for the company more than 15 years. Just like that. The group was immediately escorted from the premises, unable to even say goodbye to their respective teams.

Now that’s personal.

It’s easy to take the human element out of business. “It’s just business.” “Business is business.” “It’s not personal; it’s business.”

But business is personal, immensely so. And ignoring that truth can not only ruin your organization’s culture, but it can cost you the very element that helps your business stand out.

A company like Zappos understands that people, not product, make an organization. They know that the human touch can turn a relatively ordinary idea (selling apparel) into a unique and profitable company.

No matter how you slice it, business is fueled by people and therefore is inherently personal. Embracing the human element is not only the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do for your organization.

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“What if” may seem like an innocent enough question, but combined those two simple words have the power to create or destroy a business. It all comes down to the motivation behind the question.

The owner of a Florida beachside retail store would be wise to ask, “What if there’s a hurricane?” By evaluating the risk he can stay prepared and purchase the necessary insurance policy.

The inventor is smart to ponder,“What if somebody tries to replicate my idea?”  In that case, weighing the “what if” will encourage her to secure the necessary patent, thus helping her retain market share.

These are the helpful kinds of “what ifs.” These are the productive ones. But for every productive ”what if” there are 10 destructive ones.

The timid entrepreneur may use “what if” to avoid starting his business. “What if my idea isn’t good enough?” “What if I don’t make any money?” “What if I fail?”

This is when “what if” becomes a liability: when it’s asked out of fear.

What if my idea isn’t good enough? Then you’ll let it evolve into one that works.

What if I don’t make any money?  Then you’ll reexamine your business model and patch the holes.

What if I fail? Then you’ll come up with a new plan. Onwards and upwards.

It’s impossible to remove all the “what ifs” from your vocabulary. It won’t happen. The wisdom comes from knowing which ones to act on and which ones to throw away.

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When was the last time you gave 10 percent of your annual income to a local house of worship? If you’re like most Americans, the answer is, well, probably never.

In 2012 the tradition of tithing has all but disappeared from American culture—especially amongst the younger generations. But just because conventional tithing may be on the decline, that doesn’t mean the idea itself should be discarded.

What we need is tithe reform, a modern twist to a long-standing and important tradition.

If you’re without disposable income and don’t associate with a specific religion, there are still plenty of ways to make annual contributions.

Instead of giving 10 percent to a religious organization, donate a set portion of time, money, or services to a charitable organization that you find valuable. Like a tithe, you should establish the contribution upfront and “pay in” to the system throughout the year—an idea that’s not too far off from the original concept.

Tithing hasn’t always been about giving money. Historically, people tithed with goods (mainly in the form of agriculture) or services. Today, instead of exhausting one means of contribution, you can borrow from that system and develop your own comprehensive giving platform.

Personally, I choose to split my giving three ways. As an active participant in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, I give time every week to my “little brother.” As a member of UNICEF’s Next Generation, I donate professional services. To other organizations, like charity: water and Donor’s Choose, I choose to make financial contributions. Combined, this approach allows me to share my time, money, and services with the community and give back in a more dynamic way.

Tithing isn’t measured by the size of the check, but by the impact of the action. Imagine what could be achieved if everyone developed their own personal tithing game plan.

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Bells and whistles are cool. Bells and whistles can make a business feel important. But bells and whistles aren’t a prerequisite for producing great work.

The massage place I go to is located in a dumpy building in the midtown district of New York City. There are no candles or relaxing music. In fact, the room consists of nothing more than a massage table and a thin cloth partition separating you from the other clients. They’ve literally invested 0.00 dollars in supplemental luxuries. But you know what? They offer the best damn massage in all of New York City and that’s why it’s difficult to get an appointment, especially on a weekend.

If the product is supreme, the bells and whistles matter a whole lot less. And that doesn’t just apply to small local businesses.

Look at Craigslist. Valued at $5 billion, Craigslist is certainly not the most beautiful or complex site ever built. But guess what? It’s simple, functional, and delivers on its promise. And that’s why it works.

Getting fancy is fine…if you have the budget, time, and expertise. But it isn’t a requirement for doing great work and certainly doesn’t substitute for it. Focus on the work and build out from there. The bells and whistles will fall into place when they need to, if they need to.

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Today is February 3rd, and if the experts are right, millions of Americans are abandoning their New Year’s resolutions and falling back into old habits. Treadmills are gathering dust. Debt is piling back up. Addictions are kicking in.

Congratulations. You now have the competitive advantage.

It’s time to revisit your goals for 2012 and recommit to a plan of action. Double your quotas. Take on more than you can handle. Make it harder on yourself.

If the climb isn’t at least a little painful than you aren’t climbing fast enough. This is the time to crank it up.

Remember, ambition gets you dreaming; drive gets you moving; focus keeps you on track.

February is for focus.

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